Variable contour vice jaw

Abstract

A variable contour vice jaw. A vice (10) having variable contour vice jaws (12, 14) is disclosed for clamping of irregularly shaped objects. Housing (26, 126) receives piston (50, 150) which is truncated (58, 158) and has a jaw contact member (64, 163) removably affixed thereto. Plate (44, 144) is affixed to housing (26, 126) and prevents piston (50) from being removed from housing. Bore (28, 128) is filled with an incompressible fluid with pistons (50, 150) half extended. Jaw contact member (64, 163) move in and out to conform to the shape of an irregularly shaped member held within vice jaws (12, 14).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A variable contour vice jaw, comprising: (a) a housing having a front face and a plurality of bores extending through said front face;   (b) a plurality of piston members each having first and second ends, sized to be received within said bores with said first end extending through said front face, a portion of each piston member being truncated, between said first and second ends;   (c) stop means removeably affixed to said housing for engaging said end point of said truncated portion whereby said piston members are prevented from sliding out of said bores; and   (d) means for interconnecting said bores to provide a closed hydraulic system in operative relationship with said piston members; and   (e) means for injecting fluid into said hydraulic system.   
     
     
       2. A vice jaw according to claim 1 wherein said stop means includes a plate removably affixed to said front face, said plate extending over a portion of said bores. 
     
     
       3. A vice jaw according to claim 2 wherein said plate includes means for moving said plate away from said bores without removing said plate from said front face. 
     
     
       4. A vice jaw according to claim 1 wherein said truncated portion includes a section of each of said piston members which is removed thereby forming flat surface. 
     
     
       5. A vice jaw according to claim 1 wherein said piston members are cylindrical in shape and wherein said bores are parallel to each other with axes of said bores being coplanar. 
     
     
       6. A vice jaw according to claim 1 including sealing means for preventing fluid within said bores from escaping said housing via space between said piston members and said bores. 
     
     
       7. A vice jaw according to claim 1 including a replaceable jaw segment removably affixed to each of said piston members for contacting a workpiece to be held by said jaw. 
     
     
       8. A variable contour vice jaw for use in a vice comprising: (a) a housing having a front face and a plurality of bores, said bores extending through said front face;   (b) a plurality of pistons sized to be received within said bores, said pistons having a first end to be extended through said front face;   (c) stop means affixed to said housing and each of said pistons for limiting the travel of said pistons through said front face;   (d) a plurality of replaceable jaw segments for contacting material to be held in the vice, each of said segments having a rear face, each of said rear faces having a bore sized to receive said first end of said piston;   (e) means removably affixing each of said segments to said pistons; and   (f) means for interconnecting said bores to provide a closed hydraulic system in operative relationship with said pistons; and   (g) means for injecting fluid into said hydraulic system.   
     
     
       9. A vice jaw according to claim 8 wherein each of said pistons has an aperture therethrough located toward said first end and wherein each of said segments has an aperture therethrough located to align with said piston aperture when said piston is received within said segment and wherein said affixing means includes a fastener inserted into said segment and piston apertures for removably affixing said segments to said pistons. 
     
     
       10. A vice jaw according to claim 8 wherein each of said pistons has a boring partially extending therethrough and wherein each of said segments has an aperture therein located to align with said piston boring and wherein said affixing means includes a fastener inserted into said aperture and said boring to removably secure said segment and piston together. 
     
     
       11. A variable contour vice jaw for use in a vice comprising: (a) a housing having a front face, said housing having a first bore extending longitudinally within said housing and a plurality of cross bores perpendicular to said first bore and extending therefrom to said front face;   (b) a plurality of pistons each having first and second ends sized to be received within said cross bores with said first ends extending through said front face, a portion of each piston being truncated between said first and second ends;   (c) a plate affixed to said front face, said plate extending over a portion of said cross bores so that said pistons in said cross bores are prevented from sliding out of said cross bores by contact of said plate with the endpoint of said truncated section;   (d) a plurality of jaw segments removably affixed to said first ends of said pistons for contacting material to be held by the vice; and   (e) means for injecting fluid into said bores and for sealing said fluid within said bores to create a closed hydraulic system in operative relationship with said pistons.   
     
     
       12. A vice jaw according to claim 11 wherein said jaw segments have a V-shaped front face. 
     
     
       13. A vice jaw according to claim 11 wherein said jaw segments are knurled. 
     
     
       14. A vice jaw according to claim 11 wherein said jaw segments are made of a material which will not scratch a workpiece held therewithin. 
     
     
       15. A vice jaw according to claim 11 wherein said segments each have a front face and wherein said front face includes adjustable means protruding outward from said face whereby an irregularly shaped workpiece may be accomodated within said jaw. 
     
     
       16. A vice jaw according to claim 15 wherein said adjustable means includes threaded fasteners. 
     
     
       17. A variable contour vice jaw for use in a vice comprising: (a) a housing having a front face provided with a first bore extending longitudinally within said housing parallel to said front face, said housing further having a plurality of cross bores extending perpendicularly from said first bore to said front face;   (b) a plurality of pistons sized to fit within each of said cross bores, each of said pistons having first and second ends and a section of its outer surface truncated, said truncated section starting at said first end of each of said pistons and ending at a point between said first and second ends, each of said pistons further having a circumferential groove in its outer surface, said groove located toward said second end each of said pistons further having an aperture therein located perpendicular to its longitudinal dimension;   (c) sealing means located within said groove of each of said pistons for creating a fluid barrier between said pistons and said cross bores;   (d) a plate affixed to said front face of said housing, said plate extending over said cross bores by a distance equal to or less than said truncated section on each of said pistons so that said pistons are prevented from being removed from said housing when said plate comes in contact with the end of said truncated section, said plate including slotted fastening holes which permit said plate to be lowered away from said cross bores without removal of said plate from said front face;   (e) a plurality of jaw segments for contacting material to be held by the vice, having a countersunk bore for receiving a portion of said piston, said segment further having an aperture located to align with said piston aperture when said piston is received within said countersunk bore;   (f) a roll pin to be snugly received within said piston aperture and said segment aperture for securing said piston and segment together;   (g) bleeder means in fluid communication with said first bore for permitting fluid to be controllably released from said housing; and   (h) a fluid input means for controllably admitting fluid into said first bore, said input means located in said housing.   
     
     
       18. A variable contour vice jaw for use in a vice comprising: (a) a housing having a front face provided with a first bore extending longitudinally within said housing parallel to said front face, said housing further having a plurality of cross bores extending perpendicularly from said first bore to said front face;   (b) a plurality of pistons sized to fit within each of said cross bores, each of said pistons having first and second ends and a section of its outer surface truncated, said truncated section located between said first and second ends of said pistons, each of said pistons further having a circumferential groove in its outer surface, said groove located toward said second end each of said pistons further having a boring extending into said piston located perpendicular to its longitudinal dimension;   (c) sealing means located within said groove of each of said pistons for creating a fluid barrier between said pistons and said cross bores;   (d) a plate affixed to said front face of said housing, said plate extending over said cross bores by a distance equal to or less than said truncated section on each of said pistons so that said pistons are prevented from being removed from said housing when said plate comes in contact with the end of said truncated section;   (e) a plurality of jaw segments for contacting material to be held by the vice, having a bore for receiving a portion of said piston, said segment further having a threaded aperture located to align with said piston boring when said piston is received within said bore;   (f) a set screw to be snugly received within said threaded aperture and said segment boring for securing said piston and segment together;   (g) bleeder means in fluid communication with said first bore for permitting fluid to be controllably released from said housing; and   (h) a fluid input means for controllably admitting fluid into said first bore, said input means located in said housing.